Direct current measurement



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FIPSZIZ Filed Sept. 21, 1943 Fig].

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.n .im IN m A P me o ri moai d A W h H T Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT 50 Price mifilffiffifimmm '7 -to-General Eleet'ri :New York Compan y, -a or --Application.september 21, 1943, Sefial No.I03,229

S CIiimS.

:My inventionrelates to a method and'eppara- .tus .ior measuring direct current and it .isparticularly adapted to the accurate measurement -of high values of :direct Current without the'use of "a calibrated .current shunt. The apparatus required of .my invention 'hasa fraction-nitric weight and cost of a nurrentisliunt suitable for measuring an equivalent current, and any in- =vention does not require the cutting or otherwise :npening of thehigh current circuit for the purpose of inserting a shunt.

In carrying my invention into effect, I prcvidea flux responsive instrument which-.ispl eedin t held of the direct current bus or cable in which the current is to be measured. This instrument is provided with a winding for producing :eiflux which opposes the bus field flux therein. .Bhe :zmall current through such winding necessary .to nullify the influence :of .the bus .flux on'the instrument :is proportional to the bus :current, :and hence, can be measured in terms of the bus current. Automatic current regulating :means 'is used to control thetnullifying flux current of .the instrument. Such regulating means .is subject .to .a fine control from control-contactsnmthe 1flux responsive instrument and .120 a mouse 1302111101 which involves comparing the-nulliiying iluxzcurrent withthe voltageidrop across anectinmnithe hus.

The features of myinvention which=aze heliere'd to be novel andpatentable-be poinhad outin the claims appended hereto. .Ffilrfl better under- .standing of my invention, reference isrmade-in .the following description to -.the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of apparatus and circuit connections which may be used in carrying out the invention. 2 represents .the effect of difierent orientmi ;cm1- .ditions of the flux responsive insin'ument relative to the bus, .a .feature whichzis utilizedrfor :mliibration p rposes.

Referring to Fi 1, the-stranded busstmctmze :orconductor Ill represents one side orilinemf a direct current circuit capable of carrying a tame current, 'suchfor example as 50,000 :amperes. 4

The high magnitude of the current totbe .measured is not a limitation pfwmytinvention The .bus "I, because of its'sizedsmade in sections tier nnechanieal :reasons :but *whatever tcurrent is flowing is 385511111611 to divide rapproximately'rin .the same proportion in the several sectionsrtor *all values of total'current.

When current flows in winns 40, ia'fiux its-set mp about it as represented at ii, which form (Chin-95') etionallto thebus current. Supported at ase- Jectedpositwn insuch nux'fieidis an instrument .12 which carries a small harsshaped ,poiarized .needle 13 generally similartoa compass needle. 5 The needle or armature .l3.is freel pivoted on .anaxis whichisfixed with respect to. the base of the instrument and whichaxis Lhas an n with respecttothe directionoi'the ibus flux field in which .the armature .is located, such that the armaturetendsstoturn and so'iar as possible align itself with such fiuxlfield. ."Ihemostsensitive orientation of the instrument with respect -to the field isthatwhere theaxis of rotation 'of .thearmauire llis atright angles to the bus .flux :field. l'lhellnstrumentis provided with a minding comprising coils .TS and it which, when energized with .direct current,.a'lso produces a field inthe immediate vicinity of the sarinature l3 and at right angles to its axis of rotation-and accorfiingvto my invention. .the field -produced by-.such Svindiniis made to oppose and nullify the busfieldintheimmediate vicinity of the armature 43. The current in coils I5 and it which isiust sufiicient tonnlliiy thenbusfluxfleld -is .then proportional to the currentfflow in bus I 0, and the apparatusmay 'be calibrated to measm'esuchcurrent. V -Currentissupplied tocoils and J5 through wires 24 --.from atransformer Jllthrough a rectify- .ing andcontrolling .vacuum'tube I8. cur- -1'eni'..c.ii.'cuit.24 includes anammeter l5, thecur- .rent .coil oi a .wattor watthour meter-.20, or both, and a resistance potentiometercomprising a resistance 21 .having. a. resistance '22 connected in parallel with one section and a-resistancei23 in :;parallel with another sectionthereo'i.

I :The gridsbiasoftube .ltiscontrolled'by alight .sensitive cell 25 and amirrorgailvanometer 2'6 which is preferably a .fluxmeterandis responsive .to the diflerential .voltagefirop across asection -.of. the .mrectcurrenthus ..'I It and selected parts .of 'the resistances .22 .and Q23. .lThe galszanometer -circuit may. he 'tracediromm connection 11 on -the bus ill ithrough:thegahzanometenrepresented 5 as at the suspended .coil type, .to anladiusteble Jan 28 on ,resistancesu, ansuiiustable .tap '29 .on sresistance 23, wirelmbacktmapointl'laof .the *bus 40. ,'I?he current "through .the galuanometer 46 is due-to the moltageidropv across the ,points IL-fluent the busfless the voltage dropacross thetaps 28. and s28. Lightiszeflected i'rom..a light source 3| by sthe .galvanometer mirror 12 -to the photocell -25.---'-.'Ihe photocell \is seen-- enacted betweenthe control grid -of when .and

xiven point-in the vicinitymi'iheebusds proporit suitable pointmn 4 iIBSiStG-DCB 33 connected between the cathode and plate of tube I8. A grid 'leak 34 is connected between the grid and cathode of the tube, and the cathode of the tube is heated by a secondary coil for that purpose on transformer I1. The tap 28 is for coarse adjustment and within limits may be manually adjusted and both taps 28 and 29 are automatically adjustable by a reversible pilot motor 35 controlled either directly or through relays 38 and 31 from stationary contacts 38 and 39 of the flux responsive element I2 which carries a cooperating contact 40 on its moving element. There is lost motion in the adjusting mechanism of tap 28. The apparatus may be adjusted and calibrated as follows: Let it be assumed that with 50,000 amperes flowing in bus I0, we desire five amperes of current in circuit 24. First, we so position the flux responsive element I2 relative to bus I that when five amperes are flowing in coils I5 and I6, the field produced by such coils just neutralizes the influence of flux II on the magnetized needle or flux responsive element, so that the needle armature and contact member 40 stand in a neutral position between the contacts 38 and 39, as represented. This instrument has a spiral spring contact lead to the moving element that produces a very slight bias when moved from-such a position; however, such a spring bias is not essential. Second, the fiuxmeter galvanometer 26 control of tube I8 is so adjusted that with 50,000 amperes flowing in bus I0, the voltage drop across points 21-2111 less the vol.age drop between taps 2B and 29 is such as to yield a deflection of galvanometer 26; such that the light on photocell is such as to cause five amperes to flow in the tube circuit 24. At such time the voltages 21-21:; and 28-29 are equal if a, true fiuxmeter is used, as it has no restoring torque. The adjustment of tap 28 manually may be helpful in making such adjustment. Further, the direction of deflection of fiuxmeter galvanometer 26 is such that a decrease in voltage drop across points 21-210 reduces the bias on tube I8 and the current flow in circuit 24. The connections of motor are such that if the current in coils I5 and I6 fails to nullify the flux I I, the flux responsive element I2 will deflect and close the contact, for example contact 38, to operate tap 29 to the right, reducing the voltage which opposes the voltagedrop,

across 21-21a, thereby increasing the deflection of fiuxmeter 26 and the current flow in tube circuit 24 until the contact of the fiuxmeter returns to the neutral position and the voltage 29-28 due to the increased current in 20-2I equals voltage 21-21a. Some initial adjustment of the spacing between points 21 and 21a may also be desirable to bring the operation of the system within the desired range. Once the sys- CROSS REFERENCE portional to the current in bus I0. Hence, such current can be measured on the ammeter IS in terms of the bus current with high accuracy. At H, I have represented the other side of the direct current bus circuit by a single line to include in the disclosure a voltage connection so as to measure the wattage in the bus. Twenty (20) represents a watt measuring instrument or meter energized by the calibrated current of tube' circuit 24 and also by a voltage over leads 42. Any

1 number of instruments, meters, and relays may tem is properly adjusted and calibrated, it is seen v that the adjustment of the contact 29 and possibly also contact 28 in response to the deflections of the fiuxmeter serves to keep the shunt, comprising the bus section across which taps 21 and 3| are connected, calibrated. For instance, if the voltage drop across points 21 and 21a increases due to heating of the bus rather than an increase in bus current, this will cause instrument 26 to deflect to increase the current in circuit 24 be energized by the calibrated current in circuit 24. In the calibration of the apparatus, it may be desirable to move the flux responsive element towards or awa from the bus, and a telescoping adjustable support 43, which should be made of nonmagnetic material, is represented for securing the flux responsive element in adjustable fixed relation with respect to the bus. Also, I have represented a universal pivot connection 44 between the flux responsive element and supporting rod 43, also useful for calibrating adjustment purposes.

In Fig. 1 let it be assumed that the axis of rotation of the flux responsive needle is at right angles to the direction of the bus flux therethrough, and that the flux axis of the coil I5 and I6 is parallel to the bus flux. The bus flux and coil flux will therefore be in line with each other but opposed. In such condition the two fluxes, when equal in the vicinity of the armature needle, will have equal influences on the needle for all needle positions.

If the flux responsive element is turned so that the component of the bus field B, Fig. 2, no longer directly opposes the coil field C and the north pole of the magnet I3 is between the obtuse angle of the vectors representing the partially opposing fields a change in one field with respect to the other will produce a rotation of the resul'ant vector as from R to R. The compass needle will follow the rotating resultant vector freely within the limits of the contact spacing. It can maintain a stable position between the gaps and if mechanically deflected from its alignment with the resultant vector, it will experience a restoring torque proportional to the sine of the angle between it and the resultant vector. The needle acts as if it were being held in place by a spring. This is the normally desirable operating condition. If the angle formed by the bus field and the coil field is reflex with respect to the magnet north pole, for example where the instrument is turned so that Bx represents the bus field component, then it can be shown that the needle cannot exist in stable equilibrium between the contacts, unless provided with a spring, and its response to relative field changes is in the nature '01 atoggle snap action. Thus the needle if disturbed would try to turn degrees from the position shown to line up with the resultant of B; and C. In this condition the compensation is practically continuous and in some situations this may be desirable. When the most desirable position has been found and the apparatus calibrated, the flux responsive element should remain in a fixed position relative to the bus, and

-'other devices and conditions which might diswhich will cause the control to function to move contact 29 to the left to increase the voltage which opposes that across points 21-21a until th calibrated condition is restored. 4

The apparatus will function automatically to maintain a current in tube circuit 24 proportional to the bus flux II which is of course proturb the bus flux field distribution in the vicinity of the flux responsive element should not be disturbed. As shown in'Fig. '1 the flux responsive instrument I2 has no magnetic circuit but is of the air core type, and hence, the angular direction of the flux II therethroughmay be altered with respect to the field produced b the coils I5, l6

I Examiner and with respect to the axis of the magnetic armature l3 by orienting the instrument in the field II as described above.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. Current measuring apparatus comprising in combination with a direct current conductor carrying the current to be measured, an air core flux responsive instrument positioned directly in the leakage flux field of such conductor such as to be influenced by such field flux in proportion to the current flow in the conductor, said instrument having a winding for producing a second flux in said instrument, a circuit for energizing said winding in a direction such that the influence of the two fields on said instrument is opposed, means for regulating the current flow in said circuit including means controlled by said instrument in response to the difierential field of said instrument for maintaining the influence of said fields on the instrument equalized, and means for measuring the current in said regulated circuit in terms of the current flow in said conductor.

2. Apparatus for measuring direct current including a conductor carrying the current to be measured, an air core flux responsive instrument positioned within the infiuenceof the leakage fiux field of said conductor, a winding on said instrument for producing a second field influencing said instrument, a circuit for energizing said winding such that the influence of the two fields on the instrument is opposed, means subject to the voltage drop across a length of c said conductor for regulating the current in said circuit, means controlled in response to the differential field of said instrument for calibrating such regulation means to maintain the influence of the two fields acting on said instrument substantially equalized, and means for measuring the current flow in said circuit in terms of the current flow in said conductor.

3. Current metering apparatus comprising in combination with a conductor carrying the current to be measured, a flux responsive instrument positioned in the field of said conductor so as to be influenced thereby, a winding for producing a second field in said instrument, a metering circuit for energizing said winding so that the influence of the two fields on the instrument is opposed, a deflection type instrument connected in a shunt circuit across a section of said conductor for regulating the current in said metering circuit and maintaining it proportional to the deflection of said shunt connected instrument, said shunt circuit including a resistance potentiometer in the metering circuit which introduces a voltage in the shunt circuit opposed to the voltage drop across the conductor section, and means controlled by the flux responsive instrument for adjusting the voltage introduced into the shunt circuit by the potentiometer, decreasing said voltage when the field of said conductor predominates in the influence of th flux responsive instrument and vice versa.

4. In a current measuring system a bus structure carrying the current to be measured, an air core differential flux responsive instrument having a magnetic armature, means for supporting said instrumentin adjustable fixed relation to said bus structure such that the spacing between said instrument and bus structure may be varied to vary the intensity of the bus field in the instrument for a given bus current, and to universally orient th instrument relative to said bus structure to vary the direction of the bus field through the instrument, said instrument having winding means for producing a field in a fixed direction through the instrument regardless of the orientation of said instrument relative to the bus structure.

5. Current measuring apparatus comprising in combination with a direct current conductor which carries the current to -be measured, a flux responsive instrument positioned within the flux field of said conductor, a winding on said instrument for producing a second flux in said instrument, a metering circuit for energizing said winding in such direction as to oppose the influence of the conductor field on said instrument, avacuum tube regulator for controlling the current flow in said metering circuit, a mirror fluxmeter connected in a shunt circuit across a section of said conductor, light sensitive means for controlling th operation of said vacuum tube and controlled in response to the deflection of said mirror fluxmeter to maintain the current flow in the metering circuit proportional to the deflection of said fiuxmeter, a resistance potentiometer in the metering circuit connected to the shunt fiuxmeter circuit so as to introduce into said fiuxmeter circuit a voltage which is substantially equal and opposes the voltage across the conductor section, and relay means controlled by said flux responsive instrument for adJusting the resistance potentiometer to decrease and increase the voltage introduced by it into the shunt fluxmeter circuit according as the conductor flux or the second flux predominates on the influence or the flux responsive instrumen THEODORE A. RICH. 

